Parmer County Cancer Coalition 'Pink Out' Oct. 27
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month the Parmer County Cancer Coalition (PCCC) will once again be sponsoring the “Pink Out” football game in Friona. This year the Pink Out game will be Friday, October 27 as the Chieftains host the Muleshoe Mules. Show your support and Pink Out Chieftain Field. T-shirt orders are being taken until Monday, October 2. Order forms are available at the Chamber office and the Friona Public Library and in the Friona Star. Forms will be distributed to the Primary and Elementary schools as well.
October 1-31 is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 1985, the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries (now part of AstraZeneca) formed a partnership. The aim of the partnership was to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.
The pink ribbon that is so visible today was established as the symbol for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estee Lauder Companies. In 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors.
Parmer County Cancer Coalition was founded in May 2010. They have a seven-person board that governs the registered 501 (c)3 charity.
PCCC raises money locally to fund a grant program to financially assist residents of Parmer County that are being treated for cancer. The application process is simple and the funds can be used for everything from rent to utility bills, to transportation costs and medical bills.
PCCC averages about $10,000 a year in grants given out since 2010. Over the past seven years, they have given out approximately $70,000.
Each year PCCC contributes 10 percent of their revenue to the American Cancer Society to help the bigger cause of cancer research.
Yearly fundraising events include a “Coins for a Cure” drive at the schools in May and the Pink Out games during October. For the past several years, they have been the beneficiary of the Pudge Kendrick Memorial Golf Tournament.
PCCC accepts memorials and donations at any time of the year. No other funding sources exist except through the generosity of Parmer County residents.
In the past, PCCC has been honored by the Amarillo Area Breast Cancer Coalition as their “Charity of the Year” and have worked with them to promote free mammograms to uninsured county residents.
Funds can be deposited to InterBank, or mailed to: PCCC, 906 Euclid, Friona, TX 79035.
PCCC will be running a grant application in the Friona Star throughout the month of October for those that may need funding.
